Ohio State
2-2
UCONN (Snowbird Classic)
2-2
Hot Hitting Lifts Buckeyes Over Huskies in Series Finale
2/20/2023 2:58:04 PM | Baseball
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – After trailing early, the Buckeye bats came alive as Ohio State (2-2) downed UCONN (2-2), 10-5, in the final game of a four-game series on Monday afternoon.
Game Recap
- UCONN got off to an early lead in the top of the first inning, 2-0, after two solo homeruns.
- In the bottom of the third, with one out on the board, Henry Kaczmar singled to left field. Hank Thomas then singled to center and Kaczmar turned on the jets, advancing to third base to put Buckeye runners on the corners. An RBI single form Josh McAlister put Ohio State on the board and cut the UCONN lead in half, 2-1. Back-to-back RBI singles from Marcus Ernst and Kade Kern gave the Buckeyes their first lead of the game, 3-2.
BOTTOM 3? | Bucks are on the board after an RBI single from Josh McAlister#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/gL7nSbvFql
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) February 20, 2023
BOTTOM 3? | TIE BALL GAME An RBI single from @marcusernst02 evens the score at two runs apiece#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/jw2aWwiC1c
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) February 20, 2023
BOTTOM 3? | THE BUCKS ARE IN THE LEAD @KadeKern drives in a run to put OSU ahead, 3-2#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/mzg2lO8D30
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) February 20, 2023
- The Huskies tied it up in the top of the fourth, 3-3, after a sac fly.
- The Buckeyes reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning and never relinquished it. Ernst was walked to lead-off the inning. Singles from Kern and Mitchell Okuley loaded the bases. Nick Erwin walked to plate a run and give OSU the one-run lead, 4-3. A big double from Matthew Gravline plated two runs to put Ohio State ahead, 6-3. Thomas reached base on a fielder’s choice and Erwin and Graveline both scored to give the Buckeyes their largest lead of the day so far, 8-3.
BOTTOM 5?| A big play for the rookie A two-RBI double from @MGraveline09 extends the OSU lead, 6-3#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/S6YjX2MMBy
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) February 20, 2023
- The Buckeyes turned their first double play of the season in the top of the seventh inning to keep the Huskies off the board.
- Ohio State added to its lead in the bottom of the eighth; Kaczmar had a lead-off single to get on base. Hunter Rosson singled to center and he and Kaczmar were both able to advance on the throw to put them both in scoring position. Ernst came up clutch with a two-RBI single to put the Bucks ahead by seven, 10-3.
BOTTOM 8? | A two-RBI single from @marcusernst02 extends the Ohio State lead, 10-3#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xWpRmrnRXP
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) February 20, 2023
- The Huskies added two more runs in the ninth but it was not enough to overcome Ohio State as the Buckeyes took the victory, 10-5.
Buckeyes by the Numbers
- The Buckeyes totaled 13 hits in the game, their most of the season so far.
- Ernst, Kern and Kaczmar led the Bucks with two hits apiece.
- Ernst had a team-high three RBIs, while Graveline and Thomas each batted in two runs.
- Starter Gavin Bruni six, tying his career-high, in a 3.1-inning no-decision. He gave up two earned runs on five hits.
- Reliever Jonah Jenkins (1-0) earned the win on the mound. He struck out four and allowed just one hit and one walk in 4.2 scoreless innings.
Up Next
- The Buckeyes head to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon (Feb. 23 &25) and Gonzaga (Feb. 24 & 26).
#GoBucks
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jenkins, Jonah (1-0)
L: Quinn, Braden (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Morton, Korey 1 ; Freeberger, Dominic 1
HR: Smith, David 1 ; Huber, Ben 1
RBI: Smith, David 1 ; Morton, Korey 2 ; Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Huber, Ben 1
SF: Morton, Korey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, David 1 ; Morton, Korey 1 ; Huber, Ben 1 ; Studley, Jake 1 ; Daniels, Ryan 1
SB: Daniels, Ryan 1
CS: Simmons, T.C. 1
HBP: Smith, David 1 ; Studley, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: Graveline, Matthew 1
RBI: McAlister, Josh 1 ; Ernst, Marcus 3 ; Kern, Kade 1 ; Erwin, Nick 1 ; Graveline, Matthew 2 ; Thomas, Hank 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McAlister, Josh 1 ; Ernst, Marcus 1 ; Kern, Kade 1 ; Okuley, Mitchell 1 ; Erwin, Nick 1 ; Graveline, Matthew 1 ; Kaczmar, Henry 2 ; Thomas, Hank 1 ; Rosson, Hunter 1
CS: Ernst, Marcus 1 ; Okuley, Mitchell 1
